New K-9 joins state police

Odin, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, started as a pet before joining Indiana State Police as a K-9 officer. State trooper Dustan Rubenacker introduced his K-9 partner Wednesday at the ISP command post in Evansville.
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Indiana State Police Trooper Dustan Rubenacker (left) introduces his new K-9 Odin (right), a two-year-old male Belgian Malinois, to the media at the Indiana State Police District 35 headquarters in Evansville, Ind., on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Rubenacker and Odin's graduation from the 12-week training program in Indianapolis marks the first time an ISP trooper's pet dog has become a certified K-9 trooper.
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The state police department usually buys trained dogs overseas, ISP spokesman Sgt. Todd Ringle said. ISP made an exception when State Trooper Dustan Rubenacker applied to be a K-9 handler with his dog Odin, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois.

Rubenacker grew up with sporting dogs that went hunting with him. Odin was never “the kind of dog that lays on the couch with you and watches TV,” he said.

“Just because you have a dog doesn’t necessarily mean it can become a police dog,” he said. “It takes a very special dog to do that.”

He originally trained Odin for personal protection. They completed 12 weeks of training in Indianapolis this year to refine the dog’s skills and get him ready for patrol.

“He was already doing a lot of this stuff before he got here, which made it way easier to train him,” Rubenacker said.

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Th new K-9 Trooper Odin, a two-year-old male Belgian Malinois, sits next to his owner Indiana State Police Trooper Dustan Rubenacker during a media meet-and-greet at the Indiana State Police District 35 headquarters in Evansville, Ind., on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Rubenacker has had Odin since he was 6-months-old. (Photo: SAM OWENS / COURIER & PRESS)

Odin is trained to sniff out drugs including cocaine, heroin and meth. He can also search buildings, track suspects and is trained in “aggression control,” the police department's term for using a K-9 to control a suspect they believe is dangerous or resisting arrest.

Master Trooper and K-9 trainer Kevin Waters said police usually import dogs to be sure the animal will be ready to join the force. Buying a dog as a puppy, like Rubenacker did, is a risk.

"It's just a gamble ... when they're a puppy, if they're going to progress to that point health- and drive-wise where they're going to be suitable for police work," he said. "When we buy dogs, we can take them back ... It's a blessing that the dog's a great dog."

On patrol, Odin is technically a tool. He’s meant to protect Rubenacker and other officers. But at home, he’s still a pet.